Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World

Kathy Freston wasn't born a vegan. The best-selling author and renowned wellness expert actually grew up on chicken-fried steak and cheesy grits and loved nothing more than BBQ ribs and vanilla milkshakes. Not until her 30s did she embrace the lifestyle of a veganist - someone who eats a plant-based diet not just for their own personal well-being but for the whole web of benefits it brings to our ecosystem and beyond. Kathy's shift toward this new life was gradual -she leaned into it -but the impact was profound. Now Kathy shows us how to lean into the veganist life.

First of all, the lady reading this book really detracts you from the content. Her reading was so slow, even pausing in the middle of sentences at times. The intonations in her voice were very distracting, as well, sounding constipated and whiny through most of the program. On another note, I was unable to get through the chapter about animal abuse on the farms. I’ve read a lot of books on this subject and the scenarios in this book were really too graphic for my taste. However, this really is not a criticism, just an observation. On the positive side, the personal accounts in the book were fun to hear about. I think the work that Kathy Preston is doing is really amazing. I’ve seen her in interviews. She is gorgeous, well-spoken and truly a great role model for a veganist. She does a nice job getting the word out about people making dietary changes for their personal health, the welfare of factory farm animals, and the health of the planet. This book has some great information in it. My main criticism comes from Kathy’s dietary advice, though. If you plan on making dietary changes for ethical reasons, this could be the book for you. If you want to make dietary changes for health reasons, I think this could steer you in the wrong direction. Sure, some of the foods Kathy talks about are extremely healthy but there is an emphasis on junk, like faux meats, cheeses and dairy. One example is Daiya faux cheese whose ingredient list contains Titanium Dioxide. Look it up folks. On a personal note, the ethical part of me, is a bit repulsed by meat and I don’t want to substitute frankenfood that “tastes” like meat. Also, she speaks highly of processed garbage foods like Amy’s, Gardein’s, Tofurky and Morningstar. I doubt she eats this stuff herself. Perhaps this is an improvement over the average American diet, I’m not sure. Maybe Kathy wants to appeal to the masses, knowing that it is going to be hard for people to change the way they eat, leaving behind foods they are familiar with and perhaps this could be a “bridge” to a healthier diet. I’ve got two words for you. Whole Foods, Plant-Based. This includes Fruits, Vegetables, Beans, Legumes, Nuts and Seeds. Don’t substitute an unhealthy diet for another unhealthy diet. Go all the way. Do it right.

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